Greg Schatz to celebrate new, fourth album tonight at AllWays Lounge

Local songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist Greg Schatz has released his new, fourth album, “Where the River Meets the Railroad Tracks,” under his own name, rather than as Schatzy or the Schatzy Band. That’s fitting, as the contents reflect his musical and personal worldview, including his abiding affection for the Frenchmen Street side of New Orleans.

Greg Schatz performs at the AllWays Lounge on Friday, Sept. 7, to celebrate his new CD.

Throughout the dozen original compositions, Schatz shows off his sense of humor and a pop sense informed by his Big Easy potpourri.

The piano, saxophone and lilting tempo of “Don’t Get Depressed” quote classic New Orleans rhythm & blues. Wry humor and a viola are woven through the back porch sing-along “This Might Be the Job for You.” Thanks to Laughlin and Jones, and Schatz’s lovingly irreverent lyrics, “What Is It About Living in New York City” winds up as a roundabout New Orleans mash note; so, too, the Bywater snapshot “I Just Got to Get Back to New Orleans.”

Schatz celebrates the new CD tonight at the AllWays Lounge, 2240 St. Claude Ave. Show time is 10 p.m., with Schatz and his band -- consisting of Dave Stover on bass, Doug Garrison on drums, Alex McMurray on guitar and Helen Gillet on cello -- slated to perform two sets. He'll also likely break out his accordion to revisit older Schatzy material.